Jared Kushner, son-in-law of President Donald Trump, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff traveled to Ukraine after a three-hour meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
On September 6, local time, Kushner and Witkoff arrived in Kyiv, Ukraine, according to reports from CBS News and the Associated Press. Initially, there were suggestions that the envoy team might fly directly from Russia to Kyiv, but they instead landed in Poland and took a train to Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the change in plans was due to airstrikes on international airports in Ukraine by Russian forces, as reported by The Guardian.
The envoy team held two meetings with President Zelensky on the same day. Zelensky emphasized that the goal of the talks is to achieve a just and fair peace that ensures there are no opportunities for renewed attacks on Ukraine. The envoys are also scheduled to meet with national security advisors from the UK, France, and Germany.
Witkoff described the discussions as “very meaningful, substantive, and important,” adding that they were “very encouraging.” Kushner highlighted that President Trump is focused not only on how to end the current war but also on creating conditions for lasting peace.
Earlier, the envoy team visited Moscow on September 5, where they met with President Putin for three hours. However, the Associated Press reported that no significant breakthroughs emerged from the Russian talks. Yuri Ushakov, a foreign policy advisor to the Kremlin, characterized the meeting as constructive, candid, and useful, noting that discussions also covered economic issues and projects of mutual interest between the U.S. and Russia.
In a video released from the Moscow meeting, President Putin asked Kushner and Witkoff to convey his regards and gratitude to President Trump, stating that the situation in Ukraine is “not simple,” according to CBS. A White House official indicated that the discussions with President Putin included a “substantive plan for next steps” to be announced in the coming weeks.
The envoy team's next objective appears to be the resumption of a trilateral meeting involving the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia. According to CNN, Kushner expressed optimism at a press conference after the talks with Ukraine, stating, “What Steve (Witkoff) and I think is really productive is to return to the trilateral talks that we had six months ago,” and he hopes for progress soon. President Zelensky agreed, stating that efforts should be made to hold trilateral talks or meetings that include European partners.
Previously, President Putin dismissed a letter from President Zelensky proposing a meeting as “meaningless.” He has questioned Zelensky's legitimacy, citing the state of emergency declared during the war that began in 2022, which has allowed Zelensky to remain in power since his election in 2019.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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